How to Remove a Bad Splinter

Splinters are small foreign objects that get caught in your skin. They can cause a lot of pain and may lead to infection if not removed properly. While some splinters protrude from the skin and can be picked out easily, bad ones trapped under the skin can be more challenging. Knowing how to remove a bad splinter lodged deep in the skin can help alleviate pain and keep infection at bay.

Things You'll Need

• Antibacterial soap
• Washcloth
• Cotton ball
• Rubbing alcohol
• Sewing needle
• Pointed tweezers
• Antibacterial cream
• Bandage

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash the area where the splinter is located with warm water and antibacterial soap. Don't apply pressure atop the splinter, as you don't want to push it in farther. Dab the area softly with a clean washcloth to dry.

• 2

  Hold a clean washcloth under hot water for 20 seconds. Apply the hot cloth over the area of the splinter for one minute. This will help soften the skin and draw the splinter up and out a bit.

• 3

  Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol. Rub the cotton ball over a thin sewing needle several times to kill germs and sterilize the needle.

• 4

  Gently Insert the tip of the needle into the skin that covers the splinter to make a tiny break in the skin. Slowly work the needle tip into the skin and maneuver it under one end of the foreign object.

• 5

  Pull the needle back up slowly to pull the end of the foreign object up and out through the skin you have penetrated. Use pointed tweezers to firmly grasp the end of the splinter that is poking out, then pull out the splinter.

• 6

  Wash the spot again with antibacterial soap and water, and let it air dry for five minutes. Dab on a thin layer of antibacterial cream, and cover the area with a bandage. Continue washing and re-bandaging every day for a week, or until the area is healed.